SPOKANE, Wash. – The Washington State Department of Health held a free soil screening event in Spokane on Saturday.
Residents could bring jars of soil from their own yards or gardens to be tested. Parents could also bring their children’s toys to be checked for lead.
Staff use X-ray machines that detect metals to measure the levels of materials in the soil.
Experts say wildfires can leave toxic particles in the soil and air, and those particles can harm people. The screenings give residents a way to learn what is in the ground around their homes.
James Watt, a toxicologist with the Department of Health, explained why testing matters.
“Particulate matter is very small particles, smaller than the size of a human hair that end up in the air and if you inhale them it can cause health effects like respiratory problems, problems breathing or cardiovascular problems, like problems with your heart,” Watt said.
One woman brought soil from her garden because her crops were not growing correctly. Others came because their properties sit near areas that burned in wildfires.
The Department of Health has not announced a date for its next soil screening. The agency plans to return to Spokane sometime next year.
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